COLUMN: Trailing or Leading: MYPath payback is natural and financial

The paved section of MYPath has only been open for about 10 months, but lots of people have been walking, running, cycling and simply enjoying the trail. Most of the users would say this trail has been worth the investment in recreation. Wouldn't it be nice if we could say it has been worth the investment financially, too?

Some people balk at the cost of trails. That's understandable. The Riverfront Trail section of MYPath, a 10-foot wide, paved, ADA accessible path with an 80-foot long, 14-feet wide, steel bridge was nearly $1 million. How can we justify paying that much for a relatively short trail?

If we were at a party and I started talking about the financial justification of trails, I would start mentioning "multipliers." And you would politely back away and find someone more interesting to talk to.

So, let's tell a story about the trail. Bob and Jane live in Indianapolis and like to find new trails to hike. They see the MYPath Trail System Facebook page and decide to visit the trail. They decided to go to Civilian Brewing Corps for lunch. Then they stop to fill up with gas and start making plans for their next visit. This is a real economic impact from attracting visitors to your trail. Imagine what the impact will be when we connect to McCormick's Creek State Park and its 600,000 annual visitors.

Now, another story, and this one is not imaginary. The company that laid the blacktop was Tucker Paving of Spencer. The workers on all parts of the trail construction got lunches, drinks and fuel. I didn't ask to see their receipts, but I'm sure it was mostly local. When I need materials for installing the trail counters, or nearly everything else I do at the trail, I go to Spencer Hardware.

How much money was spent locally on this local project? How much of this money would not have happened if MYPath did not exist? It is hard to quantify, but you know it is something.

And one more story that is not made up. Have you noticed the new sidewalk and lighting on South Main Street? That came from grants to the MYPath Trail System from ROI and Smithville Charitable Trust.

Radius Indiana oversees the Monon South trail that stretches from the Clarksville, Indiana area to Mitchell, Indiana. They contracted with the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands for an economic impact study. Eppley estimated 22 percent to 34 percent of trail users will be out-of-town visitors. Projected spending will be $34,000 to $111,000 per mile.

While spending by visitors is nice, the private investment drawn to trails is transformative. As I have toured other community trails, people point to the new stores and even housing developments that want to locate close to trails. According to an Indianapolis Star story from July 31, 2024, the Monon Trail through Carmel has attracted more than $1 billion and the Nickel Plate Trail in Fishers has attracted $515 million in private investment.

Last session, the Indiana Legislature provided $0 for trails. However, they created a summer study committee to look at the economic value of public lands. I will be watching closely. I am confident MYPath is contributing to this community in terms of health, recreation and money.